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Early Labour gains in Scottish council elections SNP and Labour makes gains in Scottish elections
(32 minutes later)
Labour is aiming to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Glasgow Results are being announced in the Scottish council elections - with the Conservatives suffering losses and the SNP and Labour making gains.
The early results are being announced in the Scottish council elections - with the Conservatives suffering big losses and Labour making gains. The SNP has secured an overall majority in Dundee, while Labour has won control of West Dunbartonshire.
Labour has won overall control of West Dunbartonshire, and has picked up seats in Glasgow. The early indications suggest the Tories could suffer even bigger losses in Scotland than they have in England.
The early indications suggest the Tories could suffer bigger losses in Scotland than they have done in England. More than 1,200 councillors are being elected across the country's 32 councils.
More than 1,200 councillors will be elected across the 32 councils.
Each council is divided into smaller areas known as wards, with every ward electing up to five councillors.Each council is divided into smaller areas known as wards, with every ward electing up to five councillors.
Votes being counted after Scottish council electionVotes being counted after Scottish council election
A simple guide to the Scottish council electionsA simple guide to the Scottish council elections
How to follow the election results on the BBCHow to follow the election results on the BBC
These councillors will have control of education, social care and other key local services.These councillors will have control of education, social care and other key local services.
Counting began on Friday morning at centres in each local authority area.Counting began on Friday morning at centres in each local authority area.
Labour - which finished third behind the SNP and Conservatives in 2017 - has been picking up seats from both of its two main rivals, and could overtake the Tories in the battle for second place this time.Labour - which finished third behind the SNP and Conservatives in 2017 - has been picking up seats from both of its two main rivals, and could overtake the Tories in the battle for second place this time.
The party has won an overall majority in West Dunbartonshire, where the SNP had previously been the largest party and had formed the administration, after returning 12 councillors, four more than previously.The party has won an overall majority in West Dunbartonshire, where the SNP had previously been the largest party and had formed the administration, after returning 12 councillors, four more than previously.
No party held a majority in any local authority area in Scotland after the last election.No party held a majority in any local authority area in Scotland after the last election.
The Conservatives finished second last time - but have seen their share of the vote drop sharply in many areas this time around
Labour is also aiming to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Glasgow after picking up seats in the early results, but it is unclear whether it will be able to do so.Labour is also aiming to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Glasgow after picking up seats in the early results, but it is unclear whether it will be able to do so.
The SNP has recorded strong results in many areas of the country, and will again finish with the most councillors overall. The SNP has recorded strong results in many areas of the country and will again finish with the most councillors overall, with the party gaining four seats in Angus to become the largest party from Labour.
But the Conservatives have seen their share of the vote fall by more than 10% in several wards, with Tory MSP Miles Briggs saying he believed controversy over lockdown parties in Downing Street had played a part.But the Conservatives have seen their share of the vote fall by more than 10% in several wards, with Tory MSP Miles Briggs saying he believed controversy over lockdown parties in Downing Street had played a part.
He added: "You can't deny that and I think speaking to people yesterday they certainly weren't happy with the actions of the prime minister and his team."He added: "You can't deny that and I think speaking to people yesterday they certainly weren't happy with the actions of the prime minister and his team."
There was better news for the Conservatives in Moray, where they gained three seats to overtake the SNP as the largest party.
The early story of this election has been the fall in the Conservative vote - and the resulting revival of Labour.The early story of this election has been the fall in the Conservative vote - and the resulting revival of Labour.
The Tories have collapsed to the point of losing a seat to the British Unionist Party in North Lanarkshire, and the outstanding question is who will profit the most from their losses.The Tories have collapsed to the point of losing a seat to the British Unionist Party in North Lanarkshire, and the outstanding question is who will profit the most from their losses.
The SNP are still in a strong position, but it is Labour who are making the biggest gains, particularly in the west of Scotland.The SNP are still in a strong position, but it is Labour who are making the biggest gains, particularly in the west of Scotland.
The party has taken overall control of West Dunbartonshire Council - a significant feat under the STV system. In 2017, no party won a majority in any of Scotland's 32 councils.The party has taken overall control of West Dunbartonshire Council - a significant feat under the STV system. In 2017, no party won a majority in any of Scotland's 32 councils.
Meanwhile the Greens and Lib Dems are celebrating advances of their own - again often at the expense of Conservatives.Meanwhile the Greens and Lib Dems are celebrating advances of their own - again often at the expense of Conservatives.
The Scottish Greens have won their first ever seat in the Scottish Borders and have recorded some strong early results elsewhere in the country.The Scottish Greens have won their first ever seat in the Scottish Borders and have recorded some strong early results elsewhere in the country.
Green candidate Holly Bruce finished first in the ward of the SNP's Susan Aitken, who was the Glasgow City Council leader - although Ms Aitken was also elected after finishing with the second-highest number of first preference votes.Green candidate Holly Bruce finished first in the ward of the SNP's Susan Aitken, who was the Glasgow City Council leader - although Ms Aitken was also elected after finishing with the second-highest number of first preference votes.
Elections expert Prof Sir John Curtice said the Liberal Democrats could also be set to do better than expected - but the early signs were that Alex Salmond's Alba Party would fail to make a breakthrough.Elections expert Prof Sir John Curtice said the Liberal Democrats could also be set to do better than expected - but the early signs were that Alex Salmond's Alba Party would fail to make a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, the SNP's Susan Thomson has been elected as the Western Isles' first female councillor in five years. The SNP's Susan Thomson was the first woman to be elected as a councillor in the Western Isles for five years
Meanwhile, the SNP's Susan Thomson was elected as the Western Isles' first female councillor in five years - before being joined shortly after by fellow SNP member Frances Murray.
Unlike in other elections in Scotland, voters were asked to rank the candidates in order of preference using numbers - using an electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote.Unlike in other elections in Scotland, voters were asked to rank the candidates in order of preference using numbers - using an electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote.
These ballot papers will be scanned by machines, which will count the votes and apply a mathematical formula to decide which councillors will be elected.These ballot papers will be scanned by machines, which will count the votes and apply a mathematical formula to decide which councillors will be elected.
Where a machine is unable to read the vote on a ballot paper, it will be sent for adjudication by count staff who will try to work out who the person wanted to vote for. If the presiding officer cannot be sure who the voter wanted to vote for, their ballot will be rejected.Where a machine is unable to read the vote on a ballot paper, it will be sent for adjudication by count staff who will try to work out who the person wanted to vote for. If the presiding officer cannot be sure who the voter wanted to vote for, their ballot will be rejected.
Scotland councils scoreboardScotland councils scoreboard
Counting under way. After 11 of 32 councils declared. Counting under way. After 18 of 32 councils declared.
IndependentCouncils total 3Councils change 0Councillors total 123Councillors change -13 IndependentCouncils total 3Councils change 0Councillors total 133Councillors change -12
IndependentIndependent
Councils total 3Councils total 3
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 123 Councillors total 133
Councillors change -13 Councillors change -12
LabourCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 163Councillors change +13 Scottish National PartyCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 336Councillors change +21
Scottish National Party
Councils total 1
Councils change +1
Councillors total 336
Councillors change +21
LabourCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 203Councillors change +14
LabourLabour
Councils total 1Councils total 1
Councils change +1Councils change +1
Councillors total 163 Councillors total 203
Councillors change +13 Councillors change +14
Scottish National PartyCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 271Councillors change +11 ConservativeCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 156Councillors change -48
Scottish National Party
Councils total 0
Councils change 0
Councillors total 271
Councillors change +11
ConservativeCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 129Councillors change -34
ConservativeConservative
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 129 Councillors total 156
Councillors change -34 Councillors change -48
Liberal DemocratCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 48Councillors change +13 Liberal DemocratCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 60Councillors change +15
Liberal DemocratLiberal Democrat
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 48 Councillors total 60
Councillors change +13 Councillors change +15
GreenCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 16Councillors change +10 GreenCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 18Councillors change +10
GreenGreen
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 16 Councillors total 18
Councillors change +10Councillors change +10
Post-election VacancyCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 3Councillors change 0Post-election VacancyCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 3Councillors change 0
Post-election VacancyPost-election Vacancy
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 3Councillors total 3
Councillors change 0Councillors change 0
No Overall ControlCouncils total 7Councils change -1Councillors total -Councillors change - No Overall ControlCouncils total 13Councils change -2Councillors total -Councillors change -
No Overall ControlNo Overall Control
Councils total 7 Councils total 13
Councils change -1 Councils change -2
Councillors total -Councillors total -
Councillors change -Councillors change -
Councils are expected to confirm their final results by about 17:00.Councils are expected to confirm their final results by about 17:00.
Although the number of councillors elected for each party will likely be known by teatime on Friday, it will probably be next week before it becomes clear who will have control over certain councils.Although the number of councillors elected for each party will likely be known by teatime on Friday, it will probably be next week before it becomes clear who will have control over certain councils.
This is because often no party wins a majority of seats on a council and so groups of councillors work together to form coalitions. It can take a few days for these arrangements to be made.This is because often no party wins a majority of seats on a council and so groups of councillors work together to form coalitions. It can take a few days for these arrangements to be made.
After the 2017 election, no single party had a majority of seats in any Scottish council - so all were either run by a coalition or a minority administration.After the 2017 election, no single party had a majority of seats in any Scottish council - so all were either run by a coalition or a minority administration.
Local elections were also held in England and Wales on Thursday, and voters in Northern Ireland were being asked to elect their next government.Local elections were also held in England and Wales on Thursday, and voters in Northern Ireland were being asked to elect their next government.
Where to follow the resultsWhere to follow the results
Journalists will be reporting from around the country as the compositions of the councils become clear.Journalists will be reporting from around the country as the compositions of the councils become clear.
You can also follow all the results as they come in on BBC Scotland news website and on Twitter.You can also follow all the results as they come in on BBC Scotland news website and on Twitter.
On TV, Reporting Scotland will have the latest at 13:30, 18:30 and 22:30 on BBC One Scotland.On TV, Reporting Scotland will have the latest at 13:30, 18:30 and 22:30 on BBC One Scotland.
And The Seven will be on the BBC Scotland channel at 19:00.And The Seven will be on the BBC Scotland channel at 19:00.
On BBC Radio Scotland there'll be in-depth reports and analysis on Good Morning Scotland, 06:00-09:00, Lunchtime Live, 12:00-13:30 and Drivetime, 16:00-18:00.On BBC Radio Scotland there'll be in-depth reports and analysis on Good Morning Scotland, 06:00-09:00, Lunchtime Live, 12:00-13:30 and Drivetime, 16:00-18:00.